Container lid with a disposable utensil

ABSTRACT

A lid with a disposable utensil for sealing a pet food container includes a lid, a gripping member, and a disposable utensil. The lid is releasably attached to an upper end of the pet food container. The lid includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The gripping member is positioned on the upper surface of the lid for removing the lid of the pet food container. The disposable utensil is detachably attached to the upper surface of the lid for accessing the pet food container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to canned pet food for dogs and cats. More particularly, the invention relates to removable lids of pet food cans provided with disposable utensils.

BACKGROUND

Typically, pet food for both cats and dogs are available in canned form. This is usually due to the tightly sealed environment ensured in food containers due to tightly sealed lids. Traditionally, pull-tabs are provided similar to the pull-tabs in beverage cans for removing the tightly sealed lid from the container. In the case of pet food, most users use the opened lid as a scoop to access the pet food in the container. Typically, an open lid has sharp edges. While using the lid as a scoop, the user is prone to injuries such as cuts, lacerations, etc., if not carefully used. A disposable utensil, which is provided along with the pet food container as an accessory for preventing such injuries, is required. Additionally, if users do not wish to use the lid as a scoop, they end up using silverware otherwise used for dining purposes. The silverware used must be cleaned after each use and cannot be used for dining purposes. A disposable utensil, which is provided with the pet food container as an accessory, is required. Furthermore, when a new can of pet food is opened, the user is forced to dump the food material to the pets bowl. This may result in excess food being dumped into the bowl especially if the pet is aggressive during feeding. An accessory, which enables the user to serve a pet appropriate portion of food, is required.

Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a disposable utensil, which is provided along with the pet food container as an accessory for preventing injuries to a user. Furthermore, there is a need for a disposable utensil, which is provided with the pet food container as an accessory. Moreover, there is a need for an accessory, which enables the user to serve a pet appropriate portion of food.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The invention disclosed herein addresses the above-mentioned need for a disposable utensil, which is provided along with the pet food container as an accessory for preventing injuries to a user. Furthermore, the invention addresses the need for a disposable utensil, which is provided with the pet food container as an accessory. Moreover, the invention addresses the need for an accessory, which enables the user to serve a pet appropriate portion of food. The lid with a disposable utensil for sealing a pet food container disclosed herein includes a lid, a gripping member, and a disposable utensil. The lid is releasably attached to an upper end of the pet food container. The lid includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The gripping member is positioned on the upper surface of the lid for removing the lid of the pet food container. The disposable utensil is detachably attached to the upper surface of the lid for accessing the pet food container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and structures disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a structure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or structure shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.

FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a lid with a disposable utensil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a lid with a disposable utensil 100. The lid with the disposable utensil 100 for sealing the pet food container 101 comprises a lid 102, a gripping member 103, and a disposable utensil 104. The lid 102 comprises an upper surface 102 a and a lower surface 102 b. In an embodiment, the lid 102 is releasably attached to an upper end 101 a of the pet food container 101. The gripping member 103 is positioned on the upper surface 102 a of the lid 102 for removing the lid 102 of the pet food container 101. In an embodiment, the gripping member 103 is, for example, a pull-tab, a stay-on-tab, etc. The disposable utensil 104 is detachably attached to the upper surface 102 a of the lid 102 for accessing the pet food container 101. In an embodiment, the disposable utensil 104 is, for example, a spoon, a knife, a fork, a spatula, etc. In an embodiment, the disposable utensil 104 is made of a plastic material, for example, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. In another embodiment, the lid 102 comprises a recess conforming to the shape of the disposable utensil 104 for securely seating the disposable utensil 104. This feature of the lid with the disposable utensil 100 enables the user to easily remove the disposable utensil 104 and use it for scooping the food material in the pet food container 101.

In another embodiment, the disposable utensil 104 is detachably attached to the lid 102 using an adhesive, for example, glue, paste, etc. The adhesive used for this application is not very strong. The type of adhesive used is such that the user is able to remove the disposable utensil 104 from the upper surface 102 a of the lid 102 with minimum resistance. In another embodiment, the disposable utensil 104 is detachably attached to the lid using a hook and loop fastener, for example, Velcro® of Velcro Industries B.V. LLC.

The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the lid with disposable utensil 100, disclosed herein. While the lid with a disposable utensil 100 has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the lid with a disposable utensil 100, has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the lid with a disposable utensil 100 is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the lid with a disposable utensil 100 extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the lid with a disposable utensil 100 disclosed herein in their aspects. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A lid with a disposable utensil for sealing a pet food container comprising: a lid releasably attached to an upper end of the pet food container, wherein the lid comprises an upper surface and a lower surface; a gripping member positioned on the upper surface of the lid for removing the lid of the pet food container; and a disposable utensil detachably attached to the upper surface of the lid for accessing the pet food container.
 2. The lid with a disposable utensil of claim 1, wherein the gripping member is a pull-tab.
 3. The lid with a disposable utensil of claim 1, wherein the disposable utensil is one of a spoon, a knife, a spatula and a fork.
 4. The lid with a disposable utensil of claim 3, wherein the disposable utensil is of a plastic material.
 5. The lid with a disposable utensil of claim 1, wherein the lid is of an aluminum material.
 6. The lid with a disposable utensil of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a recess conforming to the shape of the disposable utensil for securely seating the disposable utensil.
 7. The lid with a disposable utensil of claim 1, wherein the disposable utensil is detachably attached to the lid using an adhesive.
 8. The lid with a disposable utensil of claim 1, wherein the disposable utensil is detachably attached to the lid using a hook and loop fastener. 